I get this question from ladies all the time- How do I apply Bronzer without looking like Snooki?! Well elfettes, today I'm going to help you guys solve that problem. There are two ways to apply bronzer: One way is to get a sun kissed look, and one way is to define the face by contouring.

Lets start with the Sun Kissed Look: Using a bronzer about two shades darker that your skin tone and a large brush (try our Kabuki Brush or Complexion Brush) dust the bronzer over the forehead, nose, across the cheeks where you would get a sunburn, and down the neck so that you don't look like your wearing a mask. The key to this method is applying the product with a big fluffy brush so the product goes on streak free and you can blend as you apply.

Now for the Contoured Look: With this method, you are basically shaping the face with natural shadows. The bronzer should be applied with a more tapered brush (try our Studio Mineral Powder Brush or our Powder Brush). Dust the bronzer around the temples, through the hollows of the cheeks, on the jaw line, and blend down the neck so you don't have a masked effect. If you want to be even more defined, using our Contour Brush, apply some bronzer to the crease of the eyes and down the nose. Make sure you blend out any harsh edges so that the shadows look as natural as possible.

Which way do you prefer to apply bronzer?

-Patti, contributing elfette

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SarahD<3 wrote:
1) 8/29/2012 12:27:07 PM
The Kabuki brush is awesome! I used to always use the tiny little crappy brush that comes with bronzer and it always looked terrible. I finally tried again and bought some ELF bronzer and the face Kabuki and it goes on easy and looks great, even on someone as pale as I am!

MorganaMarie wrote:
3) 8/29/2012 5:44:09 PM
I love the contouring effect! I use the baked bronzer in los cabos, or the contouring shade in the blush bronzer duo, and apply it with the studio blush brush :)

LiisK wrote:
4) 8/30/2012 1:05:31 AM
I have cheekbones some people would kill for so I actually do not need any shading but sometimes I do contour the chin and forehead. Somehow have been unable to rock the sunkissed look - always made me look dirty. As pale as I am my neck and decollete are always lighter.

great bronzing tips wrote:
10) 8/30/2012 9:45:39 AM
Don't use a bronzer with too much white sparkle
Apply to hollows of temples cheeks etc, to create dimension
Never go past your eye when apply bronzer to cheeks.
Bronzer is better to use in the summer than blush.

Brensboldbeauty wrote:
13) 8/30/2012 9:47:46 AM
If you use a bronzer close to your skin tone and apply it with the elf studio powder brush all over then use one more shade darker underneath your cheekbones, you get the perfect, sculpted, warm face! I love it!

susiem3 wrote:
24) 8/30/2012 9:57:33 AM
I love to put bronzer on my shoulders (LIGHTLY) and down my arms because I am so fair....it really gives my appearance a pop. Also use lightly around forehead and chin areas.

WhitNic wrote:
28) 8/30/2012 10:03:25 AM
I love the sun kissed look so much that I do it year round. I also do contouring but not so much with bronzer but with a highlighter and blush. The kabuki brush is great but too big for me to do bronzer. I really like the complexion brush I think it's the perfect size and it really distributes and blends effortlessly.
Love the new baked bronzer and blush elf, Thanks!!